A treasure for Kean

In his Nov. 4 letter, Professor Bert Wailoo took issue with the spending policies of our state colleges and universities. But he was wide of the mark in citing his own institution, Kean University, as part of the problem.
Wailoo criticized the university's acquisition of the Liberty Hall Museum and manuscript collection, which was in fact a generous donation. We bought no manuscripts; rather, what is emerging as one of the state's greatest historical treasure troves came as a gift from the Kean family. The manuscripts and the museum -- also a gift to the university -- will support a history major that has grown by more than 50 percent in the last six years. The museum already hosts students in public history courses, internships and museum design classes. Rarely has philanthropy meshed so well with student demand and curriculum growth.
All public spending deserves scrutiny, but we need a firm grip on the facts. And the facts show that the initiatives Wailoo castigated at Kean are among the soundest in the state.